Sunday, July 26, 2015

Control light with magnets and olive oil?! (Faraday effect)

See how olive oil and magnets can control the brightness of light via the Faraday effect.
Get your iron-on Applied Science logo here: https://www.patreon.com/AppliedScience

Measure Verdet constant of olive oil: http://www.sestindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Volume-2Number-3PP-362-368.pdf

Plastic film polarizers: http://www.apioptics.com/linear-polarizers-spec.html

Faraday effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_effect


Monday, July 20, 2015

Liquid Nitrogen Generator - Overview

This liquid nitrogen generator uses a Stirling-cycle cryocooler that was pulled from a cellular phone tower.  It was used to cool a superconducting RF filter that aids cell communications.  The cryocooler is able to pump enough heat away from its cold end that air will liquify and drip into a vacuum flask for storage.

Jeri's video at Maker Faire 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14B8LynojI4